The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-12-25
TIE OYsTBR A
An Unpienssntocss that Arises Once n Year
on Chesapeake Bay.

BALTIMORE, Dec. 24.-The oyster war on
tho Chesapeake Is assuming that bellicose and
threatening situation which annually charac-
terizes 1t at this season. 1t ia the height Of the
oyster season 80 far as tho taking up Of the
luxurious article OF diet Is concerned, and the
season when those engaged In the trade make
their most profitable hauls. 1t ia for this reason
that the dredgcrs IRE most desperate and reck-
less in what they cali asserting their rights.
The war Is carried on by the State oyster police
force, tho tongsmen, and the German Society
on the ono side, and the dredgers on the other.
The State force is Influenced by duty to enforce
the law. the tongemen's motives are selfish.
and tho German S~ociety's philanthropic. The
dredgers are norved by the feeling that their
livelihood depends upon their occupation, and
the belief that they. OF all people In the world.
have tho best right to take oysters on the for
hidden grounds which are near their own
homes.
This year tho theatre OF the war Is In
the nelghhorhood Of Swans Point, and
tho contest Is becoming exciting. The
war began on Monday night last, and since
then there have been three battles. The pre-
liminary skirmish took place on Monday, when
the dredgers endeavored to drive tho oyster
steamer Gov. Hamilton, in command Of Capt.
Turner, deputy commnndero Of the force. from
tho grounds. On Wednesday night the three
State police steamers. Commander Plowmcn
in charge. met the dredGers, and succeeded in
capturing one of the boats. This. however, is
Il very slight matter considering the number Of
vessels and OF men engaged in dredging. The
State steamers are obliged to cover u great
area. and cannot spend much time ut one place.
the grounds al SWANS. Point. the dredeers. be-
gan to show unusual holiness at other forbid
den points,. On went the steamers, and the re-
QnIt hnQ hAnY IL rntllrn nt fha Trad pp rs Tn Syynn'a
Point. Here, besides the State force. the
d%redgers have the tongsmen to fight, but as
them from the shore. the dredgers stand in no
great fear Of them.
po MeSn BY yf The ' Staata fercs ,G3bb ey p ansmseive q ls snp,
howitzer, and with that threatened to deal out
death and destruction among the unlawful
by the pirates, who invaded the Point in the
dead Of night and carried the gun of The
al once secured another cannon twice the size
OF that stolen. and planted it on the blum. 1t
rests 9n a cTa Er and can % ,h swnnG in any my
point to anchor far away from shore. Attack
favorite hours OF work are at night. The darker
i is the better they like, IT; Lights are never
displayed, and a sharp lookout is maintained
to prevent a surprise.
The German society have nothing TO do with
the unlawful taking Of oysters, but with the
@Ss sIt "a iak,"E T6 S, lot nae oi t Re; d Dr. /. rs is so a very
are accustomed TO the life. very few can be
found who would Intentionally ship as q hand
or. an oyster boat. The suffe .ings and hard
ships incident to the business are terrible. and
for years sharghaing has been resorted to as the
only means Of getting hands. The Shanghai" is
who is merely asked whether he would like to
go to work down the bay for a week or so. He
consents, enters tho boat, and Is taken to the
oyster pungy or schooner. There he is put to
work at dredging, and being unaccustomed to
the cold and exposure. soon becomes unable to
do anything. The sicker and weaker he be-
comes. tho more he Is abused. and when he
reaches q point whore no is Of no use, he Is land
ed on a deserted shore and there abandoned.
Anumbero finluential German citizens formed
a society about n year ago for protection against
this evil. but as 1t Is almost impossible to learn
who the wrong-doers are, and equally difficult
TO find them, the society has thus far been Of
little avail.